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Canadian Government Supports Fuel-Cell Project at Vancouver Airport

General Hydrogen Corp. (Richmond, B.C.) will participate in a fuel-cell project at the Vancouver International Airport. The project will examine the use of fuel-cell power packs in "tuggers" that tow baggage to and from aircraft. The Government of Canada is providing $867,000 in support through the Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance.

"The potential for hydrogen fuel cells to provide power for an array of equipment, both mobile and stationary, is immense," said the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources. "As we develop a made-in-Canada plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the quality of our air, water and land, it is important to work with companies like General Hydrogen in developing the innovative technologies Canada will need."

"Airports worldwide are looking for a variety of ways to reduce emissions and improve productivity," said Frank Trotter, president and CEO of General Hydrogen. "Most baggage tuggers have diesel engines and are required to go in and out of terminals and service buildings. We believe we will demonstrate that electric tuggers powered with our power packs are more efficient."

General Hydrogen's power packs contain Ballard Power Systems' fuel cells that reportedly run for up to three times longer on a single fuelling than battery-powered equivalents. The same power pack was shown to greatly extend the operating time and performance of an electric-battery forklift in an earlier project at an Air Canada facility.